FanTrust was just the kind of well-informed guide we needed for launching our content on non-traditional platforms."

-Rick Mischel
CEO, Mainframe Entertainment

Archives

Archive for November, 2007


DHX Media makes strategic investment in childrens’ game firm Tribal Nova

Thursday, November 22nd, 2007

(Halifax, Canada) DHX Media Ltd. (AIM & TSX ticker: “DHX”), a leading independent international producer and distributor of television programming and interactive content, announces that it has completed a strategic investment in privately-held Tribal Nova Inc. by acquiring a 16.77% interest in the company for cash consideration of CAD $2 million.
Montreal, Canada-based Tribal Nova is […]

Remember Thirtysomething?

Tuesday, November 20th, 2007

Well I do. Tells you something about my age. Just watched the new online serial Quarterlife from the creators of the original Thirtysomething series. Got to say it’s the most compelling drama I’ve seen online. A lot of the others like Lonelygirl15, Kate Modern and PSTrixi were aimed very much at a teen girl demographic. […]

Interview: Lisa Hsia Senior Vice President of New Media, Bravo

Monday, November 19th, 2007

Here is a brief Q &A with Lisa Hsia, Senior Vice President of New Media, Bravo

Lisa Hsia is the Senior Vice President of New Media for Bravo . She is responsible for identifying and maximizing programming opportunities for Bravo in new media, facilitating business initiatives in wireless, digital, home video, as well as securing international and ancillary rights. She also develops original programming and external opportunities for digital programming.

Q. How does an independent filmmaker-turned-news documentary producer-turned news executive become one of the leading new media executives in the industry?

LH. How does an independent filmaker-turned-news-documentary producer-turned news exec NOT become engaged in the the hottest area in media? The wild wild west of the digital world is fast-paced, changing every day and a lot of fun. It’ll be even more fun when we have some proven business models and we are raking in the revenues. Right now, I still consider us in a period of experimentation and if we get ad sponsorship, i feel very, very lucky and grateful to the advertiser for getting out there with us and trying new things.

Q. How does Bravo capture value for its advertisers on the new media side? What are some of your most recent successes?

LH. I think for the advertisers there are many benefits — they’re associated with a great brand that has lots of tech savvy, passionate and highly engaged viewers, they’re absolutely getting the exposure, whether online, on mobile or on the ITV side, and most importantly, they’re getting engagement and learnings from the process.

Q. It seems that Bravo “gets” new media in ways that other broadcast or cable outlets do not – do you listen to your advertisers and agencies more than others?

LH. We try to figure out what our viewers and users want and deliver it. If it works, we’ll deliver the metrics and the advertisers and agencies will follow.

Q. The industry is still in a very early stage of determining ad pricing models for new media; is your strategy of broad experimentation resonating with advertisers?

Absolutely, there are some fantastic innovators in the emerging media space at the agencies and certain advertisers. We’re working closely with everyone to figure out what models work and how best to price the inventory while at the same time maintaining a winning user experience.

Q. The mobile channel is very fertile for Bravo – what are some of the more successful promotions you’ve done in mobile?

LH. I’ll name a few you can check out now — text RUNWAY to 27286 (BRAVO) and you can join Project Runway’s Mobile Fan Club. There’s SMS/MMS and one of it’s elements is a fun location-based, social networking application that is a PROJECT RUNWAY GUIDE TO NY which we built in partnership with Socialight.com. It’s a searchable map accessible via phone or the web, and you can find out the designers’ and judges’ favorite places in New York — from favorite fashion and shopping destinations to restaurants, museums, parks and tatoo parlors and you can comment and rate them as well. Also, go to wap.bravotv.com to see the award-winning Project Runway mobile website. And vote each week in the premiere episodes of Project Runway on a live question and qualify to win a $10,000 shopping spree at bluefly.com.

Q. Is this job the most creative, entertaining gig you’ve had in your career? Would you have expected, 3 years ago, that you’d be in this position in the (still-emerging) new media industry?

LH. This is absolutely the best job I’ve ever had. It’s fun, challenging and ever-changing. Come join us!

Change of Australian digital film landscape

Monday, November 19th, 2007

A new partnership has just been announced which will shape the future of Australia’s digital film industry in the coming years. Australia’s leading production company - Kennedy Miller Mitchell has announced it will partner with the Omnilab group to form a new company to advance the future of digital cinema creation in Australia. George Miller […]

Trans-Media enters the 21st Century

Sunday, November 18th, 2007
Trans-Media enters the 21st Century
By PGA NMC member Jeff Gomez

The age of true, premeditated trans-media storytelling was arguably kicked off in October of 2005, when Bob Iger took command at Disney. A spry Boomer to Michael Eisner’s stately Greatest Generation, Iger knows from worlds and he also understands technology. He has a firm grip on how we as consumers use the web as a colossal hub for pursuing our interests and connecting with one another over things we enjoy. By extending the worlds created by The Walt Disney Company (everything from High School Musical to Fairies and Pirates of the Caribbean) onto the Internet, he isn’t simply advertising them — he’s growing them at an exponential rate.

This way original movies will premiere with built-in fan bases, fans will get text messages from fictional characters, you’ll be able to start exploring the massive worlds of tent pole pictures in 3D environments before they hit theaters, and each novel, toy and webisode will live up to the standard of quality and consistency that makes the film memorable. It stands to reason that other companies, large and small, are following suit right now.

Jeff Gomez (jeff@starlightrunner.com), is the CEO of Starlight Runner Entertainment, Inc., a developer and producer of highly successful trans-media projects whose clients include The Walt Disney Company, 20th Century Fox, the Coca-Cola Company, Mattel and Hasbro. Over the next few weeks he’ll be sharing his expertise on the white hot trans-media industry – exploring its fascinating history and expanding upon the 8 Defining Principles of Trans-Media Production

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